Tapping valve for beer kegs



Dec. 524, 1963 v, A. SARIOTTI ETAL 3,115,150

TAPPING VALVE FOR BEER KEGS Filed Dec. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G;FROM CO2 TANK il/ il m TO DI SPENSIN G VALVE INVENTORS V/CTOR A.SAP/0777 ARTHUR J. TONNA BJ I" W A T TOPNEVS 1963 v. A. SARIOTTI ETAL3,115,150

TAPPING VALVE FOR BEER KEGS Filed Dec. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS VICTOR A. SAP/0777 ARTHUR J. TONNA l u rid A 7' TOP/VEYS ofbeer.

United States Patent California Filed Dec. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 157,515 2Claims. (Cl. 137-240) This invention relates to the valve art, and morepartic' ularly to an improvement in a tapping valve for beer kegs.

One of the well known and long used beer keg pressurizing and dispensingsystems is known as the Golden Gate system. In such a system the keg ischaracterized by the presence of a fitting in its upper wall forconnection to a source of pressurized gas, a normally closed fillopening in its sidewall, a tapping valve fitted into the sidewalladjacent to the bottom wall, and a tapping device adapted to be fittedinto the valve and locked thereto by rotative movement, the rotativemovement being effective to open the valve. Reverse rotative movement ofthe tapping device serves to close the valve and to free the tappingdevice for disengagement from the valve.

In the valves of this type which are in use, the outlet from the bottomof the keg. As a consequence, this port is uncovered to the pressurizedgas before the keg is fully emptied. The keg still contains a number ofquarts To minimize the loss of this beer, the keg is tipped, tippingblocks being regularly provided for this purpose, to maintain the valveoutlet ports submerged as long as possible. Even so, many ounces ofresidual beer remain in the keg and are lost to the purchaser.

It has been suggested that the valve be provided with a radiallydisposed tubular extension, the inlet opening of which is disposedimmediately adjacent the bottom of the keg when the valve is open,thereby enabling substantially complete draining of the keg. The patentto Lamoureux 2,545,620 discloses such an arrangement. But while thetubular extension type of valve shown in this patent enables asubstantially complete emptying of the keg, it does not lend itself toconventional keg handling practice.

Such kegs are returned to the brewery for cleaning while the valve isclosed and subsequent filling. Caustic solution is employed in thecleaning operation, and the tubular extension will entrap and retain anamount of cleaning solution, thereby rendering the use of such a valveunsatisfactory in practice.

In our co-pending application for Tapping Valve for Beer Kegs, SerialNo. 125,546, filed July 20, 1961, there is disclosed an improvement onthe described tubular extension type of valve, said improvementcomprising means embodied in the valve to render it self-clearing ofcleaning fluids during the cleaning operation.

In both the aforesaid Lamoureux patent and the aforesaid co-pendingapplication, the tubular extension type of valve shown is one whereinthe tubular extension is rotated through an angle of 90 to effectclosing of the valve and is rotated from its closed-valve position so asto be normal to the bottom of the keg when the valve is open.

The essential object of the present invention is to provide a tubularextension type of valve, as above described, wherein the tubularextension element remains fixedly positioned regardless of whether thevalve is in the open or closed condition, and which furthermore embodiesmeans therein to render the valve self-clearing of cleaning fluidsduring the cleaning operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in con- 3,115,150 Patented Dec. 24, 1963"ice junction with the drawings forming part of this specification, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, partially broken away,

of a keg embodying the improved valve of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical diametral section through the valve of theinvention, as taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FlG.4 is a detail view in section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3, thevalve being in the open condition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but taken when the valve isin the closed condition; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the parts of the valve indisassembled relation.

The keg 10 is provided with an opening 12 defined by inwardly directedflange 16. A tapping valve indicated generally at '13 comprises a sleeveportion 20 having integral at one end thereof a radially outwardlydirected flange 22 and having integral with the other end thereof an endwall 24 of substantial thickness which is provided with a tubularextension 26. The flange 22 is provided with a tab 28 which extends intoa groove 30 formed in sleeve 14, thereby preventing relative rotativemovement between the sleeve portion 20 of the tapping valve and the kegsleeve 14. Fixedly'secured to the outer end of the sleeve and flangeportions 20 and 22 of the tapping valve is a flanged ring 32 which isprovided with shaped means 34, adapted for a purpose hereinafterdescribed, and with a tab 36 which likewise resides within groove 30 ofthe keg sleeve 14. A sealing ring38 is provided between flanges 16 and22, and a lock ring 40, threadably engaged with keg sleeve 14, securesthe thus far described stationary portion of the tapping valve in placeagainst endwise movement with respect to the keg sleeve 14.

The tubular extension 26 is provided with a bi-directional passageway 42which communicates with the space defined within the sleeve portion 20of the valve. The

end wall 24 is provided with a bi-directional passageway 44 which at oneend communicates with the interior of the keg and at the other endcommunicates with the space defined within sleeve portion 20 of thevalve. The interior ends of the passages 42 and 44 are angularly offsetfrom each other approximately as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

A cylindrical valve member indicated generally at 46 is closely fittedwithin the sleeve portion 29 and is rotatable therein. The inner end ofmember 46 is recessed to partially accommodate an insert face disc 48formed of a material having good bearing and sealing qualities, such asnylon or Teflon. A pin 50 carried by member 46 is received withinacomplemental opening 52 to prevent relative rotative movement betweenthe member 46 and disc 48. Member 46 and disc 48 are provided withaligned ports 54 and 56 which are disposed in registry with the innerend of passage 42 in the open condition of the tapping valve and whichare disposed out of registry with the inner end of passage 42 in theclosed condition of the tapping valve.

Means are provided to secure the cylindrical member 46 and its insertdisc 48 relatively tightly against the inside surface of end wall 24 andfor rotating the member 46 to and from open and closed valve conditions,said means comprising a spindle 58 provided with a polygonal end 60, ashoulder 62 adapted to compress an Oaing 64 into sealing relation withthe interior end surface 66 of member 46, a flatted portion 68 whichfits within a flatted aperture 70 formed in the end wall of member 46,thereby securing member 46 against relative rotative movement withrespect to the spindle 58, a cylindrical portion 72 which extendsthrough complemental bores formed in 3 disc 48 and end wall 24, and anut 74 secured to the threaded end of spindle portion '72 and adapted tomaintain one or more spring washers 76 under compression.

The details of the tubular tapping device 73 (FIG. 1) are well known inthe art and do not require specification here, it being consideredsufficient to state that the end of said tapping device is inserted intothe cylindrical member to lockingly engage the polygonal end 60 ofspindle 58 to thereby enable operation of the tapping valve between theopen and closed conditions. The shaped means 34 is effective inconjunction with conventional means provided on the tapping device 78 tocam the tapping device inwardly to bring a washered shoulder thereoninto sealing relation with lip 80 formed on the cylindrical member 46during the course of the approximately 90 conjoint movement of thetapping device and the cylindrical member 46 to change the valve fromits closed position to its open position. When the tapping device andcylindrical member 46 are rotated approximately 90 in the oppositedirection to bring the valve from its open to its closed position, theshaped means enables withdrawal of the tapping device from the tappingvalve.

When the valve is in the open position, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the innerend of passageway 44 is deadended against the planar face portion ofdisc 48. When the valve is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5,the passageway 44 is brought into communication with passageway 42 tothereby provide a single overall passageway which is open at both endsto the interior of the keg but closed relative to the exterior of thekeg. This renders the single overall passageway comprised of 44 and 42self-clearing during the cleaning operation, such cleaning operation ofcourse taking place while the tapping valve is closed.

The means provided in the subject valve for bringing passageways 44 and42 into communication during the time when the valve is in the closedposition comprises an arcuate and fairly elongated slot 80 formed in theend of disc 48 and adapted to bridge the inner ends of passageways 42and 44, as shown in FIG. 5, when the valve is in the closed position.When the valve is in the the open position, as shown in FIG. 4, the slot80 is not in communication with either of the passageways 42 or 44.

The end surface of tubular extension 26 is provided with a plurality ofnotches 82. The purpose of these notches is to allow flow of the kegcontents into the passageway 42 in the event that the bottom wall of thekeg is accidentally deformed inwardly, as might occur during handlingoperations, into engagement with the end of the tubular extension.Without the notches $2, or the equivalent thereof, such deformation ofthe bottom wall of the keg could impede or even block off flow of thekeg contents into passageway 42.

What is claimed is:

1. A tapping valve for the dispensing of beer from kegs, said kegs beingof the type which are charged and from time to time recharged with beerat a charging station, the operator of said charging station beingrequired to sterilize the interiors of said kegs when said interiorshave been relatively emptied and said kegs have been returned to saidcharging station, the sterilizing of said kegs being normallyaccomplished by the use of media comprising a solution of alkalifollowed by the application of rinse water under pressure, said tappingvalve being adapted to enable the pressure-dispensing from said kegs ofsubstantially the entire volume of beer charged into said kegs and beingfurther adapted to enable the complete rinsing from said kegs of alkalisolution by said rinse water to thereby insure that none of said alkalisolution will remain in said kegs to contaminate the beer subsequentlycharged into said kegs, said tapping valve comprising, in combinationwith a keg having an interior and having a tapping valve orifice, atubular body member having keg-exterior and keg-interior ends, said bodymember being attached to said tapping valve orifice of said keg andextending into the interior of said keg, a chamber extendinglongitudinally of said body member and terminating in an end wall, meansfor admitting fluid into said chamber comprising a radial extensionfixedly attached to said body member adjacent said end wall and saidkeg-interior end of said body member and a first passageway means, thesame being through said extension, and a port in said end wall, acylindrical valve member disposed in fluid-tight engagement with saidend wall, a second passageway means, the same being in said valvemember, terminating in a port at said end wall, spindle means, having anaccessible portion disposed within said chamber, extending through saidend wall and said valve member for rotating said valve member in onedirection to bring said ports into beer-flow communication with eachother and for rotating said valve member in the other direction to bringsaid ports out of beer-flow communication, a third passageway means, thesame being at the keg-interior end of said body member, a fourthpassageway means, the same being in said valve member, said third andfourth passageway means being out of communication with each other whensaid ports are in beer-flow communication, said third and fourthpassageway means being in communication with each. other when said portsare out of communication with each other, and being then incommunication with said first passageway means to provide two-way, ordouble-ended, flow-through communication with the interior of said kegwhen said beer-flow communication is interrupted, whereby alkalinesolution subsequently entering said first passageway means during thecourse of sterilizing said keg may be substantially fully flushed fromsaid first passageway means by rinse water to the interior of said kegand therefrom to drain.

2. The combination of claim 1, said radial extension having theperipheral edge of that end thereof which is disposed remote from saidbody member formed with at least one indentation, said indentation beingdirected toward said body member and extending transversely across thefull width of said peripheral edge, whereby inflow to said firstpassageway means of said radial extension may not be closed off bydeformation of the bottom wall of the beer keg into engagement with saidend of said extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS246,467 Cridge Aug. 30, 1881 527,739 Van Hennik Oct. 16, 1894 2,477,590Ferwerda et a1. Aug. 2, 1949

1. A TAPPING VALVE FOR THE DISPENSING OF BEER FROM KEGS, SAID KEGS BEINGOF THE TYPE WHICH ARE CHARGED AND FROM TIME TO TIME RECHARGED WITH BEERAT A CHARGING STATION, THE OPERATOR OF SAID CHARGING STATION BEINGREQUIRED TO STERILIZE THE INTERIORS OF SAID KEGS WHEN SAID INTERIORSHAVE BEEN RELATIVELY EMPTIED AND SAID KEGS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO SAIDCHARGING STATION, THE STERILIZING OF SAID KEGS BEING NORMALLYACCOMPLISHED BY THE USE OF MEDIA COMPRISING A SOLUTION OF ALKALIFOLLOWED BY THE APPLICATION OF RINSE WATER UNDER PRESSURE, SAID TAPPINGVALVE BEING ADAPTED TO ENABLE THE PRESSURE-DISPENSING FROM SAID KEGS OFSUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE VOLUME OF BEER CHARGED INTO SAID KEGS AND BEINGFURTHER ADAPTED TO ENABLE THE COMPLETE RINSING FROM SAID KEGS OF ALKALISOLUTION BY SAID RINSE WATER TO THEREBY INSURE THAT NONE OF SAID ALKALISOLUTION WILL REMAIN IN SAID KEGS TO CONTAMINATE THE BEER SUBSEQUENTLYCHARGED INTO SAID KEGS, SAID TAPPING VALVE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATIONWITH A KEG HAVING AN INTERIOR AND HAVING A TAPPING VALVE ORIFICE, ATUBULAR BODY MEMBER HAVING KEG-EXTERIOR AND KEG-INTERIOR ENDS, SAID BODYMEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TAPPING VALVE ORIFICE OF SAID KEG ANDEXTENDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID KEG, A CHAMBER EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND TERMINATING IN AN END WALL, MEANSFOR ADMITTING FLUID INTO SAID CHAMBER COMPRISING A RADIAL EXTENSIONFIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID BODY MEMBER ADJACENT SAID END WALL AND SAIDKEG-INTERIOR END OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND A FIRST PASSAGEWAY MEANS, THESAME BEING THROUGH SAID EXTENSION, AND A PORT IN SAID END WALL, ACYLINDRICAL VALVE MEMBER